In drawings there are three basic elements of composition:
- the frame (the edge of the pictorial space)
- the positive
- the negative space
The positive space is easiest to understand because we see it. Generally, it is the space occupied by your subject.
Conversely, negative space is the space that is not your subject and people often simply forget about.
It is just as important as that object itself -- air is important for most every living organisms, isn't it?
The negative space is defined by the edges of the positive space and the frame or border (the third element).
Thus, part of our negative space is bound by the frame and another part is bounded by the positive space.
Sometimes the negative space is completely bound by the positive space.
What is important also to note is that the negative space also assists in defining your subject.
Make a viewfinder by using heavy cardboard.
Make it in two separate corners 6" x 1.5" to look like an "L" shape. Put together, the two Ls can give you the potential to proportion the viewfinder in numerous ways.
1. Look at the scene you are about to draw through the viewfinder.
2. Close one of your eyes and scan across the still life or object to find the infinite variety of composed image possibilities.
3. Commit to the most exciting composition you can find to draw.
4. Look for the negative areas left between the edges of the viewfinder's interior space and the contours of the edges you see on your objects.
5. Draw the shapes and spaces you see within the object itself, such as rungs of chairs, legs, bars, and other parts.
Create one drawing using this method.
Enlarge your drawing to fill the image frame.
Fill in these areas with ink, pencil, marker, colored pencils, watercolor, etc.